The tremors began subtly, felt not as earthquakes, but as a deep resonance within the bones of the world. The tribes of the Frostfang Peaks, already attuned to the rhythms of the land, interpreted this as the awakening of the Old Gods. They named it “The First Resonance.” The rituals centered on the placement of cairns - stacks of grey shale and obsidian - at the convergence of ley lines, each a conduit for the returning power. It was believed that the Gods were shedding their slumber, the icy grip of the Void loosening. The air itself tasted of ozone and something ancient, something… hungry.
The Ritual of Binding was enacted. Using a complex system of stones, chants in a language predating even the oldest known tongues, and the sacrifice of a stag - chosen specifically for its antlers mirroring the shape of the constellations - the tribes attempted to solidify the connection. The symbols carved into the stone shifted subtly, a visual representation of the Gods’ response. The outcome was ambiguous. Some believed it strengthened the bond; others that it merely alerted the Gods to their presence. The whispers in the wind intensified, carrying fragments of prophecies and warnings – mostly concerning the “Shadowed Ones” and their desolate hunger.
The construction of the Scrying Pool of Aethel began, a massive structure built into the face of Mount Cinder. Legend claims the pool was formed by the tears of the Goddess Lyra, wept in response to the growing corruption. The water, an unnatural crimson hue, possessed the ability to reveal glimpses of the future – though these visions were rarely clear, often presented as disjointed images and unsettling emotions. The most consistent recurring image was of a vast, empty plain, devoid of life, dominated by a single, towering obsidian spire. The interpretations varied wildly, ranging from a warning of impending doom to a call for unwavering vigilance. The priests of Lyra began to preach of a ‘Slow Fade’, a gradual draining of the world’s vitality.
The ‘Fractured Prophecies’ emerged. The Scrying Pool, rather than offering clear visions, began to generate contradictory pronouncements. One moment it would foretell the rise of a warrior king; the next, the destruction of all kingdoms. The priests attributed this to the Gods’ displeasure, a consequence of humanity’s arrogance and corruption. They instituted a strict code of conduct, emphasizing humility, reverence, and the avoidance of ambition. The rituals became increasingly elaborate, steeped in symbolism and designed to appease the volatile Gods. There was a growing fear amongst the tribes that the 'Shadowed Ones' were not merely distant threats, but agents of chaos, deliberately sowing discord.
The Rite of the Obsidian Heart was performed. A young man – chosen through a rigorous selection process based on intuition and a resistance to fear – was taken to the heart of the Obsidian Spire (the location of which remains unknown, shrouded in myth and legend). He was subjected to a prolonged period of sensory deprivation and psychological manipulation, culminating in a symbolic ‘sacrifice’ of his memories and identity. The goal was to create a conduit for the Gods’ will, a living vessel to guide humanity through the coming darkness. However, the outcome was catastrophic. The young man returned a husk, his eyes vacant, his mind shattered. The Scrying Pool shattered with him, and the crimson liquid spread across the chamber, staining the stone with an unholy light.
The echoes continue. The stones still remember. The wind still whispers. And humanity, trapped between the fading light of the Old Gods and the encroaching darkness, searches for a way to survive.